Flash forward a few decades, and in Egypt, Senet earned widespread popularity. Had this feature-length examination had focused on the past, I would still find tracing its history just as fascinating as the look at the present.
This work examines the motivations behind why certain individuals go above and beyond in pursuit of their passions. Mind you, Irving Finkel–the individual who starts off this film–is a hoot, and he almost steals the show. Only a third of the other passionate souls interviewed reveal their first time playing and what they talk about more is in what keeps them going. When I looked at some games like Arkham Horror, these rules heavy products are just that. To micromanage on top can be daunting. However, for those youths getting introduced to easier games, they may even get a heads-up in developing their people and cognitive skills.
This work barely scratches the surface about what one can find or collect. When Dan Corbett discovered the thrill during the pandemic, there was no turning back.
Other characters introduced include Tom Vasel, an influential voice in this community; Candice Harris, podcaster for BoardGameGeek; John Hague, an aspiring designer and Elizabeth Hargrave, the designer of the award‑winning Wingspan. Mitch and Starla Fitch have a YouTube channel (Our Family Plays Games) to show the world the stuff they play helps their clan bond. In contrast is a look at what Eric M. Lang faces when competing. Some people may give their challengers that look and not be as kind. Tabletop experiences like Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan are huge; they have their fan base and as for who gets the golden ticket, having more than a poker face is required!
But with today’s products, other goals exist with these recreational systems that require manipulating the board in various ways. Sometimes, observing is just as exciting and to have Corbett and Li narrate their own moment during this climatic act helped me connect. The latter is a self-proclaimed introvert, and that’s a detail I can resonate with when I started high school. Although I gravitated towards the role-playing games side of this hobby to make social bonds, I explored the wide gambit as new products were coming out.
That included TSR’s attempt to create their own tactical board experiences with Dungeon! Which saw reprints over the years. Dragon Quest came out in the early 90s to compete with Milton Bradley’s Hero Quest. And when Magic the Gathering came out, its adoption into being used more heavily in interactive tabletop experiences to randomize outcomes was certainly more evident. Not only can players customize their deck but also introduce organized tournaments. I don’t think I ever heard of these existing prior to this grandaddy of TCGs.
Although a lot of history and explanation on how some products came to be popular is ignored, maybe a part two can delve into this aspect. Ennis is in the right to look at specific individuals in the hobby because they all have a simple goal and challenge to face. Plus, when Li said, “The hobby is the purest form of social interaction,” that’s this movie in a nutshell.
I hope this filmmaker will produce a followup which explores trends in board gaming. The omission concerning how board game cafes became a social hub really needs to be explored. Hanshi’s observation holds more weight when these operations are a great way to meet new people, and perhaps find that significant other too.
4 Stars out of 5
The Hobby Documentary Trailer
